Dr. Randolph Wong is a physician who specializes in general surgery, surgical oncology (cancer surgery), and colon & rectal surgery. In his practice, Dr. Wong focuses on colorectal surgery procedures. His hospital/clinic affiliations include Sutter Medical Network, San Mateo Medical Center, and Mills-Peninsula Health Services. After completing medical school at Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Medical College, Dr. Wong performed his residency at a hospital affiliated with the University of Arizona. He is rated highly by his patients. He is in-network for Health Net ELECT POS, United Healthcare Plans, and United Healthcare EPO, as well as other insurance carriers. Dr. Wong is open to new patients.

Dr. Pamela Foster is a general surgery, bariatric surgery, and colon & rectal surgery specialist. She is rated 4.5 stars out of 5 by her patients. Her clinical interests include colorectal surgery procedures. Health Net ELECT POS, United Healthcare Plans, and United Healthcare EPO are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Foster honors. She attended medical school at Weill Cornell Medical College. Dr. Foster trained at Virginia Mason Medical Center for her residency. She is professionally affiliated with Sutter Medical Network, San Mateo Medical Center, and Mills-Peninsula Health Services. Dr. Foster is accepting new patients.

Dr. Sean Wang practices otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat) in San Francisco, CA, Fremont, CA, and Dublin, CA. He takes Health Net ELECT POS, United Healthcare Plans, United Healthcare EPO, and more. After attending the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, School of Medicine, Dr. Wang completed his residency training at a hospital affiliated with the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He speaks Mandarin. His hospital/clinic affiliations include Sutter Medical Network, Washington Hospital Healthcare System, and Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group. He is open to new patients.

Dr. Richard Francoz specializes in adult cardiology. He has indicated that his clinical interests include heart problems and pacemaker. He takes Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Medi-Cal, and more. Dr. Francoz attended the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), School of Medicine and subsequently trained at a hospital affiliated with the University of California, Irvine for residency. Dr. Francoz has received professional recognition including the following: San Francisco Super Doctors. He offers language support for patients who speak Cantonese, Filipino, and Spanish. He is professionally affiliated with Sutter Medical Network, Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation, and California Pacific Medical Center, St. Luke's Campus. He has an open panel.

Dr. Robert Detch is an orthopedist in San Francisco, CA and Burlingame, CA. Areas of expertise for Dr. Detch include knee problems, arthroscopic surgery, and replacement arthroplasty (joint replacement). His average patient rating is 4.5 stars out of 5. He accepts Health Net ELECT POS, United Healthcare Plans, and United Healthcare EPO, in addition to other insurance carriers. He attended New York University (NYU) School of Medicine and then went on to complete his residency at a hospital affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Detch speaks Spanish. He is affiliated with Sutter Medical Network, Mills-Peninsula Health Services, and VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS). He is open to new patients.

Dr. Pavithra Venkat's specialty is general obstetrics & gynecology. Before completing her residency at a hospital affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), Dr. Venkat attended medical school at Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Venkat is especially interested in women's health issues. She accepts Health Net ELECT POS, United Healthcare Plans, and United Healthcare Choice, as well as other insurance carriers. She speaks Spanish. She is affiliated with Sutter Medical Network, Alta Bates Medical Group (ABMG), and Sutter East Bay Medical Foundation (SEBMF). Dr. Venkat is open to new patients.

Dr. Kier Vanremoortere is a general OB/GYN in San Francisco, CA, Berkeley, CA, and Orinda, CA. She speaks Spanish. Dr. Vanremoortere's areas of expertise include women's health issues and family planning. She is affiliated with Sutter Medical Network, Alta Bates Medical Group (ABMG), and Sutter East Bay Medical Foundation (SEBMF). After attending the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), School of Medicine, she completed her residency training at a hospital affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Health Net ELECT POS, United Healthcare Plans, and United Healthcare Choice are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Vanremoortere honors. Dr. Vanremoortere is accepting new patients.

Dr. Ori Melamud's area of specialization is urology (urinary tract disease). Dr. Melamud has a special interest in urologic (genitourinary) disorders. He is an in-network provider for Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and CIGNA Plans, as well as other insurance carriers. Before completing his residency at a hospital affiliated with the University of California, Irvine, Dr. Melamud attended medical school at the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine. In addition to English, he speaks Hebrew. He is professionally affiliated with Sutter Medical Network, Mills-Peninsula Health Services, and Mills-Peninsula Medical Group (MPMG). Dr. Melamud's practice is open to new patients.

Dr. Leslie Kim is an orthopedics/orthopedic surgery specialist. He attended Stanford University School of Medicine and subsequently trained at a hospital affiliated with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) for residency. In his practice, he is particularly interested in musculoskeletal surgery. Patients rated Dr. Kim highly, giving him an average of 4.0 stars out of 5. He accepts several insurance carriers, including Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Health Net ELECT POS. He is affiliated with Sutter Medical Network, Seton Medical Center, and Brown & Toland Physicians. Dr. Kim has an open panel.

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What is Minimally Invasive Surgery?

Minimally invasive surgery is surgery performed using tiny tools and several small incisions instead of one large one. First performed in the 1980s, minimally invasive surgery has now become commonly used for all kinds of procedures because it offers so many benefits over traditional surgery.

Since minimally invasive surgery minimizes the amount of injury that a patient experiences by avoiding a large incision, it typically results in fewer issues after surgery. There tend to be fewer stitches needed, less scarring, less pain, a faster recovery time, and a lower risk of infection. Some minimally invasive procedures even require less anesthesia than usual.

There are three main types of minimally invasive surgery:

Laparoscopic surgery, where several small incisions are made. A tiny camera is inserted into one, and the surgeon looks at the procedure on a video screen while moving tools through the other openings.

Endoscopic surgery, which is performed using an endoscope. An endoscope is a thin, hollow tube that contains a camera. It can be inserted either through a small incision or an existing opening such as the nose. Tiny tools can be passed through the tube to the area that needs to be worked on.

Robotic surgery, which uses tools that are even smaller and more precise than laparoscopic tools. The tools and camera are inserted through a small opening, and then the surgeon controls the robot from a computer in another room.

Minimally invasive surgery is not the right choice in every situation. However in many cases, it makes surgery less difficult to handle.